New Gaming Tools: Saitek Mouse and Action Pad

It seems new joysticks, trackballs, pads, mice, and other utensils for gamers are hitting the market almost as often as the games for which they are intended. Yet gamers stick with keyboards and mice simply because those tools are unrivaled when it comes to providing precise control in first-person shooter games. That hasn't stopped manufacturers from introducing all sorts of new devices in the hope that one will appeal to this large and dedicated audience. The latest, the $50 GM2 from Saitek, features a sleek, feature-rich Game Mouse that works in tandem with an included hand-shaped Action Pad. Overall, I liked the mouse, but I had some problems with the pad and the supporting software.

Saitek's gray, contoured mouse includes a scroll wheel between the two buttons and a programmable four-way "hat" switch on the thumb side. (For the uninitiated, hat switches are multidirectional controls that allow you to access multiple functions.) But the placement of the hat switch was a problem: It was set a bit too far back to be used comfortably, so I had to take my hand off the mouse to reach it. Despite its awkward placement, the hat switch was well suited for jumping or for changing the player's view. And the wheel was useful for switching weapons.

The lightweight but solidly constructed mouse glided smoothly and accurately in gaming and in normal desktop usage. Since the Game Mouse's plug connects only to the Action Pad (which in turn plugs into a Universal Serial Bus port), you can use it in place of, or alongside, your existing mouse.